Read & explore together
A Greeting from the Elder
These opening lines greet the readers warmly and repeatedly return to truth and love. The elder names the readers, explains why they are loved, and speaks a blessing from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage begins a letter. The writer calls himself “the elder” and writes to “the chosen lady and her children”. In these first verses, he speaks about love “in truth”, says the truth remains in us and will be with us forever, and gives a blessing from the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:1–3Main takeaway
This greeting joins love with truth and names grace, mercy, and peace as coming from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The elder names the readersThe letter opens with a simple self-description: “The elder”. He writes “to the chosen lady and her children”.
Explanation
The letter opens with a simple self-description: “The elder”. He writes “to the chosen lady and her children”. He says, “I love in truth”, which shows that his love is closely linked with truth. The verse also widens out beyond one writer, mentioning others who know the truth as well.
02Others who know the truthThe elder does not speak as though he is alone in this love. He says, “not I only, but also all those who know the truth”.
Explanation
The elder does not speak as though he is alone in this love. He says, “not I only, but also all those who know the truth”. That wording ties the shared love directly to knowing the truth. The verse does not explain more here, but it clearly links truth with the way these people are regarded.
03Truth remains and stays foreverVerse 2 explains the reason with the words “for the truth’s sake”. The truth is described as something that “remains in us”.
Explanation
Verse 2 explains the reason with the words “for the truth’s sake”. The truth is described as something that “remains in us”. It is also said to “be with us forever”. In this greeting, truth is not brief or temporary. The elder speaks of it as present in us and continuing with us.
04Grace, mercy, and peace from the Father and the SonThe blessing in verse 3 says, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us”. These are named as coming “from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father”.
Explanation
The blessing in verse 3 says, “Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us”. These are named as coming “from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father”. The verse ends with “in truth and love”, returning again to the two ideas already heard in this greeting.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Who besides the elder is said to love the chosen lady and her children?
Look for the words after “not I only” and answer with the exact group named in the verse.
02What two things does verse 2 say about the truth?
Read the whole sentence carefully and note both what the truth does now and how long it will be with us.
03How does verse 3 describe Jesus Christ in relation to the Father?
Do not stop at “Lord Jesus Christ”; keep reading to the phrase that adds to his title.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 John 1:1–3
1The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,
2for the truth’s sake, which remains in us, and it will be with us forever:
3Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.